Removable cushion for restraining devices

ABSTRACT

A device for reducing the surface pressure on a patient&#39;&#39;s body caused by a restraining belt includes a cushion having a front side with a compressible thickness disposed against the patient&#39;&#39;s body. Fastening means on the back side of the cushion hold the cushion in a fixed position against the patient&#39;&#39;s body, and thereby protect the patient from contact with the belt. In one form of the invention, the fastening means includes an elongated flexible and movable flap which fits around the restraining belt, and securing means, preferably cooperating elongated &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Velcro&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; strips, for releasably fastening the free end of the flap to the back side of the cushion. The flap, in its fastened position, forms a tunnel around the restraining belt to hold the cushion against a patient&#39;&#39;s body. In another form of the invention, the fastening means includes a pair of longitudinally spaced apart straps on opposite sides of the cushion, and respective loops aligned longitudinally with the straps. The straps extend over the ends of the restraining belt, through their respective loops, and are folded back on themselves to be secured to the back side of the cushion.

Kroeger 1 June 18, 1974 REMOVABLE CUSHION FOR RESTRAINING DEVICES [76]Inventor: MildredM. Kroeger, 1401 N. Los

Robles, Pasadena, Calif. 91104 221 Filed: Apr.7, 1972 21 Appl. No.:242,098

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.152,225, June 11,

1971, abandoned.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1968 Veasey 128/13410/1970 Murcott 128/134 X Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet AssistantExaminer-G. F. Dunne Attorney, Agent, or FirmChristie, Parker & HaleABSTRACT A device for reducing the surface pressure on a pa tients bodycaused by a restraining belt includes a cushion having a front side witha compressible thickness disposed against the patients body. Fasteningmeans on the back side of the cushion hold the cushion in a fixedposition against the patients body, and

thereby protect the patient from contact with the belt.

In one form of the invention, the fastening means includes an elongatedflexible and movable flap which fits around the restraining belt, andsecuring means, preferably cooperating elongated Velcro strips, forreleasably fastening the free end of the flap to the back side of thecushion. The flap, in its fastened position, forms a tunnel around therestraining belt to hold the cushion against a patients body. In anotherform of the invention, the fastening means includes a pair oflongitudinally spaced apart straps on opposite sides of the cushion, andrespective loops aligned longitudinally with the straps. The strapsextend over the ends of the restraining belt, through their respectiveloops, and are folded back on themselves to be secured to the back sideof the cushion.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJun 1a 1914 3.8 171245 sum 1 0r 2 IN VEN TOR. MFPA D M KPO6Q REMOVABLE CUSHION FOR RESTRAINING DEVICESCROSS-REFERENC E TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation-in-partof my copending application, Ser. No. 152,225, filed June ll, 1971, nowabandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a cushion adaptedfor releasable connection to a hospital restraining belt to protect apatient from the skin irritations and soresv ordinarily caused bycontact with restraining belts and the like.

There are a number of restraining devices for supporting a hospitalpatient while he is in a bed or wheelchair. A common restraining deviceincludes a first pair of straps wrapped around the patients waist, and asecond pair of straps extending outwardly in opposite directions forattachment to the wheelchair or bed. Another common restraining deviceprovides straps which are wrapped around the patients waist and thenlooped around the back of the wheelchair or tied to a point on the bedremote from the patient.

The relatively narrow straps of these common restraining devices becomeuncomfortable for the patient after a relatively short time, becausethey rub against his body and can pinch his skin when he bends his uppertrunk forward. Moreover, the restraining belts usually cause thepatients hospital gown to wrinkle, which rubs and irritates the patientsskin, often causing decubitis sores. Thus, it is common for hospitalpatients to place their blankets between the restraining belt and theirbody to reduce the skin irritations caused by the belt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a cushion whichprotects hospital patients from the skin irritations and soresordinarily caused by hospital restraining belts.

Briefly, the cushion has a front side with a compressible thickness, anda rear side to which flexible, releasable fastening means are secured.The fastening means include a free end remote from the back side of thecushion, and means for releasably securing the free end of the fasteningmeans to the back side of the cushion. In use, the compressible side ofthe cushion is placed against the patients body, and the fastening meansis releasably secured around the portion of the restraining belt whichordinarily causes surface pressure on the patients body. Thus, thecushion is held between the patients body and the restraining belt toprevent the belt from rubbing and causing skin irritations.

In a preferred form of the invention, the releasable fastening meansincludes a pair of longitudinally spaced apart elongated straps securedto opposite sides of the back side of the cushion, and a separate loopsecured to the back side of the cushion at a point spaced longitudinallyfrom each strap. In use, each strap is extended over a respective endportion of the restraining belt, threaded through its respective loop,folded back on itself, and extended again over the end portion of thebelt, with its free end being releasably secured to the back side of thecushion to hold the cushion in place on the belt.

In another form of the invention, the fastening means comprises a flapwith an elongated strip of thistle cloth material secured to its freeend. An elongated strip of cooperating thistle cloth material is securedto the back side of the cushion. In use, theflap is wrapped around therestraining belt, and, the thistle cloth strips are thereafter securedto each other to form a tunnel around the restraining belt to hold thecushion in a fixed position against the patients body.

Thus, the cushion can be applied to a restraining belt or removed fromit relatively'quick and easily. The releasable feature of the cushion isparticularly important because it enables the cushion to be applied tothe different sizes of hospital belts presently in use. Therefore, iteliminates the need forpermanently securing pads to these restrainingbelts, or modifying the belts to facilitate use with a cushion.Moreover, one or more cushions of this invention can be applied to theparticular point, or points, of irritation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation view showing acushion with a flexible and movable flap secured to its back side;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic elevation view.

showing a typical hospital restraining belt applied to a patient; a

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation view showing the cushion applied tothe restraining belt;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation view taken on line 22 of FIG. 3 showingthe compressible side of the cushion against the patients body;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevation view showing an alternate embodimentof the cushion in which a pair of straps with cooperating loops aresecured to the back side of the cushion; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevation view showing the cushion of FIG. 5applied to the restraining belt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION-OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The fibers 14 form athick mat of compressible thickness suitable for cushioning the body ofa hospital patient against the surface pressure ordinarily caused byhospital restraining belts and the like. Fibers 14 may be woven into thesheet in a conventional and well known manner, although they also may besecured to the sheet by other suitable methods such as bonding, forexample. The fibers preferably are a polyester type synthetic fiber,such as the fiber presently sold under the trademark Kodel. However,other suitable deformable materials may be used, such as fibers made ofnylon, wool, or cotton.

A large, substantially rectangular, piece 16 of rugged flexible materialsuch as cotton, nylon, linen, or canvas is secured to the side of sheet12 opposite fibers 14. A lower half 11 of piece 16 (as viewed in FIG. 1)is fixedly secured to the central portion of sheet 12 by two spacedapart, parallel rows of stitching 18 one row extending along the centerof piece 16, and the other row securing the lower edge of the piece 16to sheet 12. The upper half of piece 16 forms a flexible flap 20 whichis movable relative to sheet 12.

A first elongated strip 22 of thistle cloth material is fixedly securedto sheet 12 adjacent to the bottom edge of the lower half 17 of piece16. Thistle cloth strip 22 preferably is Velcro material of the hooktype. Velcro strip 22 preferably extends the entire width of sheet 12,as shown in FIG. 1. A second elongated strip 24 of thistle clothmaterial is fixedly secured to the free end of flap 20. Preferably,strip 24 is made ofVelcro" material of the pile type. Velcro material iswell known and described in US. Pat. Nos. 2,717,437 and 3,009,235.Velcro" strip 24 preferably extends the entire width of flap 20, and isadapted to be firmly, but temporarily, secured to Velcro strip 22 whenflap 20 is folded to overlie lower half 17 of piece 16. Other well knownfasteners such as snaps, buckles, etc., can be substituted for theVelcro" fasteners, although the latter are preferred because of thequickness and ease with which they may be applied or removed.

A pair of longitudinally spaced apart short pieces 26 of thistle clothmaterial lying on the longitudinal centerline of lower portion 17 ofpiece 16 are secured adjacent to opposing outer edges of lower portion17. Preferably, short pieces 26 are Velcro material of the hook" type. Apair of cooperating longitudinally spaced apart short pieces'28 ofVelcro pile material positioned on the longitudinal centerline of flap20 are secured adjacent opposing outer edges of the flap 20. Thus, whenflap 20 is folded to overlie the lower portion 17, Velcro pieces 28overlie Velcro pieces 26 and may be releasably secured to each other bythe application of pressure.

The use of cushion 10 is best understood by referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and4. A hospital patient 30 is restrained in a hospital bed (not shown) orwheelchair (not shown) by a variety of restraining devices adapted tofit around his waist. FIG. 2 shows a typical hospital restraining device32 which includes a base portion 34 made of a rugged flexible materialsuch as cotton, nylon, or canvas. An elongated waist strap 36 is securedto the upper edge of base portion 34 by stitching (not shown) and rivets38. A second elongated strap 40 parallel to waist strap 36 is secured tothe lower edge of base portion 34. During use of restraining device 32,waist strap 36 is pulled tightly around the patients waist, or lowertorso, and fastened to a buckle 42 at the end of the strap. Buckle 42may be provided with a lock for use with uncooperative patients. Theends of strap 40 are extended outwardly from the patient for connectionto opposite sides of the patients hospital bed, or wheelchair. Since therestraining device generally is wrapped rather tightly around thepatients body, waist strap 36 and base portion 34 ususally cause thepatients hospital gown to rub against his skin when he moves. It hasbeen found in practice that restraining belts of this type cause skinirritations and decubitis sores in a substantial number of patients whoare restrained in their beds or wheelchairs.

Cushion 10 protects patient 30 from the skin irritations normally causedby hospital restraining devices. During use of cushion 10, the surface,consisting of compressible fibers 14, is disposed against the patientsbody in the area normally subjected to surface pressures caused by therestraining device. In the restraining device shown in FIG. 3, straps36, rivets 38, and base portion 34 ususally rub against the patient'sbody and cause irritation. These portions of the restraining device arenormally in contact with the patient's back. Thus, cushion 10 is placedagainst the area of the'patients back normally exposed to these portionsof restraining device 32. After the cushion is so positioned, therestraining device is placed against the lower portion 17 of piece 16,as shown in FIG. 4. Thereafter, flap 20 is folded so as to overlie bothbase portion 34 of the restraining device and the lower portion 17 ofpiece 16. Velcro strip 24 is then firmly pressed against Velcro strip 22to form a tunnel around base portion 34 of the restraining device. Flap20 also is secured adjacent its outer edges between waist strap 36 andstrap 30 by firmly pressing short Velcro strips 28 against theircooperating short Velcro strips 26. If it is desired to remove thecushion, flap 20 is simply pulled away from the restraining device torelease the cooperating Velcro" strips from engagement with each other.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show alternate means for releasably securing cushion 10 torestraining belt 32. In the alternate embodiment, a pair of laterallyspaced apart, elongated straps 44 are secured to opposite sides of sheet12 on the side of the cushion opposite fibers 14. As

shown best in FIG. 5, one end of each strap is permanently secured to arespective lower corner portion of the cushion so the straps extendvertically along opposite sides. of the cushion. The remaining portionof each strap is freely movable, and extends beyond the upper edge ofthe cushion. A separate elongated section 46 of Velcro hook material issecured adjacent to the free end of each strap 44. A separatecooperating section 48 ofVelcro pile material is permanently secured tothe back side of the cushion below the fixed end of each strap.

A pair of laterally spaced apart square-rings 50 are secured to oppositesides of sheet 12 in longitudinal alignment with straps 44. Each ring issecured to a respective upper corner of the cushion by a separateflexible elongated piece 52 which is looped through its con respondingring and permanently stitched to sheet 12. A line of transversestitching 54 in each piece forms a separate tunnel for holding one endof each ring in a fixed position on the back of the cushion. Theremaining portion of the ring is freely movable relative to the cushion,so the ring may be lifted to provide room for easily threading a strapthrough it.

A pair of laterally spaced apart, transverse belt loops 56 arepermanently secured to opposite sides of sheet 12 by longitudinalstitching 58. Each belt loop 56 is aligned longitudinally with arespective strap and its corresponding square-ring, and is positionedbetween the ring and the straps point of attachment to the cushion.

Referring to FIG. 6, use of the cushion is carried out by placing itbetween a patient (not shown in FIG. 6) and his restraining belt 32. Thecushion is then releasably secured to the belt by extending each strap44 over restraining strap 40 of the belt, through its corresponding loop56, over restraining strap 36, and threading the strap through itsrespective ring 50. Each strap 44 is then folded back on itself andagain extended over restraining strap 36, through loop 56, and overrestraining strap 40. The free end of each strap 44 is then releasablysecured to the back side of the cushion by pressing Velcro section 46firmly against Velcro" section 48.

Belt loops 56 hold straps 44 in a fixed position relative to thecushion, and cooperate with the Velcro strips 46, 48 to substantiallyprevent the straps from coming loose during use. Moreover, belt loops 56provide means for separating restraining strap 36 from strap 40 so thetwo straps do not become tangled during use. i i

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is especially useful for bedpatients who must be restrained for long periods of time, andwho arequite active. Such patients, by their movements, can cause a cushionwith a releasable fastening means to become loosened from therestraining belt. The releasable fastening means shown in FIGS. 5 and 6substantially prevents the cushion from being loosened from therestraining belt during normal movements of an active patient. Beltloops 56 and rings 50 cooperate with Velcro strips 46, 48 to providecombined means for holding the straps in a fixed, but releasable,position on the back of the cushion, which substantially prevents thecushion from coming loose from the belt during use.

Thus, the cushion can be applied to a restraining device or removed fromit quickly and easily. Moreover, since the cushion is adapted forreleasable engagement with a restraining device, it can be applied todifferent sizes of hospital belts presently in use. It also avoids theneed for hospitals to secure pads permanently to restraining devicespresently in use. Moreover, several of the cushions may be applied to agiven restraining device in the event there are several points ofirritation to be protected.

1 claim: r

1. A device for reducing surface pressure on a patients body caused by arestraining belt wrapped around the patients body, the device includinga cushion having a front side with a compressible thickness, and a rearside having a major intermediate portion,

a pair of laterally spaced apart elongated straps secured to the reverseside of the cushion and extending in the same general direction, eachstrap having a front side and a reverse side, with the reverse sidethereof normally overlying the rear side of the cushion and thefrontside thereof normally facing away from the rear side of the cushion,each strap having only one end thereof secured to the rear side of thecushion so that each strap is freely movable independently of thecushion and extends to a free end remote from the rear side of thecushion, each strap being secured so that the freely movable portionthereof extends across the major intermediate portion of the rear sideof the cushion with its front side normally facing away from the rearside of the cushion,

a separate elongated section of a first type of thistle cloth materialon the front side of each strap adjacent the free end thereof,

a separate elongated section of a second type of thistle cloth materiallocated adjacent the point of attachment of each strap to the cushionand facing away from the rear side of the cushion, the second type ofthistle cloth material being adapted to be releasably secured to thefirst type of thistle cloth material,

anchoring means attached to the rear side of the cushion in longitudinalalignment with the normal extension of each strap, and

a separate loop associated with each strap, each loop being secured toan intermediate portion of the rear side of the cushion between, and inlongitudinal alignment with, its corresponding anchoring means and thepoint of attachment of its corresponding strap to the cushion so thateach strap can be engaged with the anchoring means, folded back onitself, extended over the first portion of the belt, threaded throughthe loop, extended over a second portion of the belt, and thenreleasably fastened at the rear side of the cushion.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the an choring meanscomprises a separate ring fixed to the rear side of the cushion inlongitudinal alignment with each strap, each ring and the point ofsecurement of its associated strap being on opposite sides of the majorintermediate portion of the rear side of the cushion.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which each second section ofthistle cloth material is secured directly to the rear side of thecushion.

1. A device for reducing surface pressure on a patient''s body caused bya restraining belt wrapped around the patient''s body, the deviceincluding a cushion having a front side with a compressible thickness,and a rear side having a major intermediate portion, a pair of laterallyspaced apart elongated straps secured to the reverse side of the cushionand extending in the same general direction, each strap having a frontside and a reverse side, with the reverse side thereof normallyoverlying the rear side of the cushion and the front side thereofnormally facing away from the rear side of the cushion, each straphaving only one end thereof secured to the rear side of the cushion sothat each strap is freely movable independently of the cushion andextends to a free end remote from the rear side of the cushion, eachstrap being secured so that the freely movable portion thereof extendsacross the major intermediate portion of the rear side of the cushionwith its front side normally facing away from the rear side of thecushion, a separate elongated section of a first type of thistle clothmaterial on the front side of each strap adjacent the free end thereof,a separate elongated section of a second type of thistle cloth materiallocated adjacent the point of attachment of each strap to the cushionand facing away from the rear side of the cushion, the second type ofthistle cloth material being adapted to be releasably secured to thefirst type of thistle cloth material, anchoring means attached to therear side of the cushion in longitudinal alignment with the normalextension of each strap, and a separate loop associated with each strap,each loop being secured to an intermediate portion of the rear side ofthe cushion between, and in longitudinal alignment with, itscorresponding anchoring means and the point of attachment of itscorresponding strap to the cushion so that each strap can be engagedwith the anchoring means, folded back on itself, extended over the firstportion of the belt, threaded through the loop, extended over a secondportion of the belt, and then releasably fastened at the rear side ofthe cushion.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the anchoringmeans comprises a separate ring fixed to the rear side of the cushion inlongitudinal alignment with each strap, each ring and the point ofsecurement of its associated strap being on opposite sides of the majorintermediate portion of the rear side of the cushion.
 3. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 in which each second section of thistle clothmaterial is secured directly to the rear side of the cushion.